title: Stem cell differentiation on electrospun nanofibrous substrates for vascular tissue engineering.
abstract: Nanotechnology has enabled the engineering of a variety of materials to meet the current challenges and requirements in vascular tissue regeneration. In our study, poly-L-lactide (PLLA) and hybrid PLLA/collagen (PLLA/Coll) nanofibers (3:1 and 1:1) with fiber diameters of 210 to 430 nm were fabricated by electrospinning. Their morphological, chemical and mechanical characterizations were carried out using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR), and tensile instrument, respectively. Bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) seeded on electrospun nanofibers that are capable of differentiating into vascular cells have great potential for repair of the vascular system. We investigated the potential of MSCs for vascular cell differentiation in vitro on electrospun PLLA/Coll nanofibrous scaffolds using endothelial differentiation media. After 20 days of culture, MSC proliferation on PLLA/Coll(1:1) scaffolds was found 256% higher than the cell proliferation on PLLA scaffolds. SEM images showed that the MSC differentiated endothelial cells on PLLA/Coll scaffolds showed cobblestone morphology in comparison to the fibroblastic type of undifferentiated MSCs. The functionality of the cells in the presence of 'endothelial induction media', was further demonstrated from the immunocytochemical analysis, where the MSCs on PLLA/Coll (1:1) scaffolds differentiated to endothelial cells and expressed the endothelial cell specific proteins such as platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1 or CD31) and Von Willebrand factor (vWF). From the results of the SEM analysis and protein expression studies, we concluded that the electrospun PLLA/Coll nanofibers could mimic the native vascular ECM environment and might be promising substrates for potential application towards vascular regeneration.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Textile Science & Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Textiles, Donghua University, No. 2999 North Renmin Road, Songjiang, Shanghai 201620, China; Center for Nanofibers and Nanotechnology, E3-05-14, Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Initiative, Faculty of Engineering, National University of Singapore, 2 Engineering Drive 3, Singapore 117576, Singapore.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.forename: Molamma P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Prabhakaran
authors.forename: Xiaohong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: Seeram
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ramakrishna
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D003094:Collagen / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D057139:Nanofibers / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry*; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D011091:Polyesters; D014841:von Willebrand Factor; C033616:poly(lactide); D003094:Collagen
keywords: Collagen; Electrospinning; Induction media; Mechanical strength; Scaffolds